Kind of surprised we didn't have one of these yet, but now that more than half of us are in third trimester and we've had our first birth in this group (!), it seems like a good time to start one. If you've started yours, what's going in yours? If you're a second (or more)-timer, what did you put in yours last time that you thought was completely pointless?
Re: The Hospital Bag Thread
Just organized most of mine after recent L&D scare:
For the baby:
- Two going home outfits. One in NB size, the other in 0-3 -- just in case. The boots are overkill but ILs bought them so I figured it'd be cute to have to let them see him wearing them.
- Receiving blanket
- Swaddler
- Couple of cloth diapers -- I know everyone says don't bother bringing your CDs but our hospital recommended it just in case we do somehow end up staying longer and he gets through the meconium poops.
Not pictured: car seat, boppy (just in case, I know some people say it's a must have with you and others say otherwise), and car seat winter shower cap style cover.For me:
- Travel toothbrush, toothpaste
- Soap, face wash, lotion, face moisturizer, shampoo, comb. Not bothering too much with makeup because I don't wear much of it anyway and I can't imagine I'm going to care that much after labor.
- Phone charger
- Earplugs (JUST IN CASE, more for fiancee than me)
- Insurance card
- Birth plan copy
- Hair ties
- Lip balm
- Non-skid warm socks
- Camera battery charger
- Nursing bra
- Nursing pads + Lanolin + dermasol (I know a lot of hospitals provide these, so this is a "just in case" kind of thing)
- Robe
- Big freaking granny panties just in case I don't like the mesh ones for some reason
- Post partum harem-style sweat pants to go home in so no one sees a gigantic maternity pad
- Towel -- I'm REALLY on the fence about this one. I didn't see any in the recovery rooms when we toured but a lot of people say don't bother bringing a towel... I really would hate to be in a situation where I didn't have something as stupid as a towel and unable to take a simple freaking shower.
Not pictured:- Camera
- iPad and phone
- Nursing shirt
ETA: OH is bringing his own bag, which I'm not in charge of, I don't even want to be concerned with his needsI'm planning to toss in some overnight pads when I get around to buying them. I also want to bring my breast pump and pillow so the LCs can help me get set up.
so far I have:
-2 robes
-3 nightgowns
-toiletries ( for me and DH)
-Depends( I prefer these over the mesh underwear)
-Lip balm
-Sports bras
Car seat
Snacks for your SO (and maybe you)
Extra pillow (hospital pillows suck)
Entertainment in case you have a long, boring labor
I'd be shocked if towels weren't provided @canavara. They may not be the best quality but they're there.
I hadn't even thought about a pillow either... the ones we saw did look awful!
STMs, do you think pjs or night gowns are better than just the hospital robe with a bathrobe for going on walks post partum? At this point I feel like I'll want easy access to do peri care and feed the baby.
My only other recommendation would be to make sure you save space in the bag to take home hospital swag. Depending on where you are giving birth, there may be cloth diapers (take all of these, they make the best burp cloths!), extra mesh underwear, industrial sized pads, the little water squirty bottle for cleaning yourself when you can't use TP, diaper samples, baby hats, baby onesies or kimono style shirts, baby mittens, the medical grade snot sucker (definitely take this, the ones they sell in stores are garbage), etc. My hospital even gave me a gigantic water cup and straw to keep.
Jan17 Sept Sig: Pumpkin Spice gone too far
https://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/locations_services/Services/Maternal-Services/Documents/What to bring- Maternal Tour.pdf
DS2: 11/5/14
My bag:
Baby outfits (NB and 3 Mo in case of giant baby)
Blanket for baby
Change of clothes for myself
Shampoo and body wash (because the hospitals sucked and dried my skin and hair out so bad)
Change of clothes for myself
Insurance and information and phone charger are in my wallet
I'll toss my makeup bag with Chapstick and the basics and my hairbrush in on our way out the door.
I brought lanolin/pads/nursing pads/extra clothes and underwear and clothes for DH last time and didn't touch any of it. DH will be going home this time to sleep with DD at the house and all that other stuff was provided by the hospital.
Oh and leave lots of extra room in your bag for swiping extra diapers/wipes/pads/snot suckers
Me:
- nursing friendly night gown and robe if I determine nightgown isn't warm enough (won't be using the one I used last time because it was definitely one for summer, and I haven't bought the new one yet)
-our netflix box (we use a dlink but others might use Roku). Last time, we hooked it up to the TV on my delivery room and I watched 30 rock after I got my epidural. SO relaxing and a great distraction!
-cell phone and charger. On a related note, I'm deactivating my Facebook on my way to the hospital to avoid the bombardment of comments that I had last time. We planned to announce DD's birth on there after we got home from the hospital, but family members had other plans...
-SNACKS. All the snacks. DD was born at 12:44AM and by the time I got to my room after her delivery, the cafeteria was closed. So I didn't eat at all from about 4pm to 8am, and I consider myself lucky with that! This time, I'll have lots of snacks ready for as soon as I'm able to eat them
-Toiletries
-Going home outfit - comfy but semi nice for pictures.
LO:
-newborn and 0-3m clothes for 3 days (I'm weird - I like to have my babies in real outfits from the beginning... my babies are not in pajamas 24/7 because I like their other clothes too much! Ha!)
-car seat
IMO, no need to bring diapers for baby or pads for you etc unless you just prefer to use your own - hospital will provide all that. No need to bring a pump because hospital will provide if necessary, but DO have it ready to use for as soon as you get home just in case. My horrible, horrible experience of not having my pump ready when I needed it is detailed in at least 2 of the STM threads.
Chapstick: I can't believe how chapped and dried out my lips got during labor!
Warm socks: Labor made me cold and I wish I'd had thicker socks
We left DS in the clothes the hospital provided us until we were discharged. Having a newborn and 0-3 month outfit is a great idea. DS was 8lbs 10oz and barely fit into the newborn outfit we took him home in.
Currently dozing off so cannot think of anything else....I'll edit if I think of anything else
https://betterbirthdoula.org/packing-list-birth-center/
Baby: A going home outfit nb size
-cozy blanket
- something warm to wear (hospital won't let you leave with a big puffy coat they will check your carseat setup before you leave)
-ringsling or wrap for snuggles and skin to skin
me: socks
-chapstick
-shower necessities travel size soap, shampoo, conditioner
- comfy shirt or nursing top to wear after delivery and things have calmed down make sure it's a loose fit
- pajama pants to go home in (c-section here you don't want anything constricting on your incision)
-snacks
- soothies breast pads (if you're really worried about not having them but they gave me some last time)
-pumping bra and nursing bra
-undies to go home in (honestly though I don't mind the hospital ones if you get gunk on them they are disposable)
-a nightime pad in case you really hate the hospital ones.
Me: 26 DH: 29 Married 8/4/2012
BFP #1 8/20/2013 | EDD 5/4/2014 | MMC 10/2/2013 9w3d | D&C 10/8/2013
BFP #2 2/8/2014 (kinda) EDD 10/29/2014 | DS Born 10/8/2014
TTCAL 11/2015 BFP #3 5/12/16 | EDD Jan 2017
Hygeine/ beauty products (for me & H)
Comfy clothes and a nightgown and my robe
Barre socks (they're super comfy with grippy bottoms)
Change of clothes for H
Aromatherapy-type lotion (yes aromatherapy is technically bunk but mind over matter- I love me some lavender lotion!)
Lots of snacks, hard candy, suckers and gum
Breastfeeding pillow
Clothes for babies (4 outfits, all newborn because there's literally no way they'll be over 8#)
A blanket for a cuter background for their pics at the hospital (they have a real photog come through for this)
ipad, cameras and chargers
Car seats + covers + our frame stroller in the car because lol I'm not carrying one out, we'll just push them both (hopefully! FX!)
I know there's more but my schedule makes it impossible to just sit down and type out a long post rn, sorry guys!
My milk didn't come in until 4 days after delivery so I didn't need any breast pads or lanolin.
What type of bag are you using? Like a full on suitcase? I can't imagine fitting everything into a tote or backpack?
also not sure how to handle the no-car sitch. We live in NYC and will be taking taxi or Uber to hospital so thinking about bags, car seat, breast pump, pillow, etc!
we may have to wing it!
I won't bring much with me because I don't really feel like I have needed much in the past. My own toiletries, nightgown, clothes for me to wear home, my own pillow, phone charger, laptop and charger and clothes/car seat for baby. We generally bring a change of clothes for DH as well. We live close enough to the hospital that DH can run home for me if I forget something.
Around 36 weeks is when I will install the car seat base. I also start sleeping with a towel on the bed and we have a waterproof mattress pad in case my water breaks. I also keep a garbage bag and towel on my seat in the van for the same reason. My water only broke with 1 of my 4 labors but better safe than sorry!
BFP#5 5/22/17 EDD:1/27/17 It's a GIRL!!!!
For baby i brought a preemie outfit and newborn, since they predicted she would be small. They didn't provide any clothes for us. Everything else I think people have covered!
i probably won't pack my bags until closer to 35 weeks.
*TW*
TWIN LOSS 7.2.15
BFP 9.7.15 CP
BFP 12.31.15 MC 2.28.16
BFP 10.14.17 CP
BFP 3.10.18 D&C 4.13.18
*TW*
TWIN LOSS 7.2.15
BFP 9.7.15 CP
BFP 12.31.15 MC 2.28.16
BFP 10.14.17 CP
BFP 3.10.18 D&C 4.13.18